My alarm woke me up much earlier than any other day, but I didn't care, it was Haydn's birthday, and I was determined to see her, even if that meant I had to go to her house before school on a freezing morning. After I took a shower and did my hair and makeup, I made sure to layer myself in a t-shirt, white hoodie and black jacket while I opted to wear black pants and white sneakers.

My parents weren't even up as I made myself some coffee and put my bag and Haydn's gift in the boot before driving off, a little slower than normal due to the wet roads. I kept envisioning how the moment would go as I drove, and I just hoped she liked it- the not knowing was driving me crazy. Thankfully my anxiety was manageable for the time being, that is until I pulled up next to Haydn's house and I saw a Police car in their driveway.

I turned off my car and got out, deciding against the gift and I ran up the stairs to their front door, knocking frantically before I took a step back and waited for someone to answer, praying it would be Haydn. However, it didn't seem as though I was on the good side of whichever deity that looked over us because Laura opened the door instead.

"Oh, it's you." She said a little disappointingly.

"Can I please speak to Haydn? It's very important." I pleaded but she just looked me up and down.

"Sorry, now's not a good time." She said as she went to close the door, but I stopped her, a little desperately.

"Please, I'll only be a few minutes," I begged but before she could answer we were interrupted by Luis, looking like he'd aged 10 years, followed by two police officers.

"Oh Cris, you're here?" He frowned and I nodded.

"Yeah, I wanted to give Haydn her birthday gift." I explained nervously and he sighed.

"Has Haydn tried to contact you in any way?" He asked and my stomach started churning at the question.

"No, I sent her a birthday message at twelve, but she didn't reply," I admitted, and he rubbed his hands down his face before shaking the hands of the cops, thanking them for their time as they promised to keep in touch. "What's going on Luis?" I asked nervously.

"Haydn is gone. We think she ran away but I'm not so sure." He said sadly and I felt my knees weaken as I processed his words.

"Wh-when?" I asked, barely able to get it out.

"We're assuming sometime yesterday or last night sometime. I only noticed this morning when I went to go wish her a happy birthday and found her draws empty, her phone on her desk and her car gone. No note, nothing." He sighed and I felt my heart physically breaking in my chest.

"Oh my god," I whispered breathlessly and saw Laura roll her eyes.

"You shouldn't worry Cris, Haydn is just being theatrical and will probably be back in a few days." She shrugged, obviously not as affected by the news as Luis and I were but I didn't miss the angry expression on Luis's face.

"Haydn has had a really, really rough start to her life and she doesn't know how to process or handle her emotions, she doesn't even call me dad because she doesn't want me that close." He sighed deeply, sadly. "She just found out her mother died, and she is struggling. I'm just terrified that it triggered something in her because I suspect there's a history of mental illness," Luis explained as I tried to process what was he was saying, Laura, spoke.

"Now you're being dramatic." She huffed and Luis gave her a look that could kill.

"Did you know that from the time she was four, Haydn would have to find her mother passed out, not knowing if she'd ever wake up? Or what about the time her mother locked her in her room so long she was HOSPITALISED?!" He seethed, Laura shrinking under his words, and I felt like I was witnessing something I shouldn't have. "She was doing so well here." He said sadly. "Especially when she started spending more time with you, Cris. I just don't know what happened and now I can't find her."

"I'm sorry," I whispered, not knowing what else to say.

"It's okay Cris. Just let us know if she contacts you but I think you should go." He said and I nodded.

"I will. I'm sorry." I whispered, his words swirling around my head as I hurriedly walked away from their house and back into my car.

I fumbled with my keys before I got my car to start, numbly driving to school with my broken heart sitting in my stomach. As hard as I tried, I couldn't comprehend what Luis had said, Haydn running away, her terrible childhood, the fact that no one could get a hold of her- it didn't make any sense until I was sitting outside the school building, and I couldn't bring myself to get out my car.

Only then did I realize I was crying, the uncontrollable tears running down my cheeks before they dripped down my chin.

Haydn wasn't going to be in that building, no winking at me in the halls, no hand on my thigh at lunch, no secret smiles in biology. She wasn't going to be there, and I had no idea where she was or how I could help her.

I was shaken out of my thoughts when someone knocked on my window and as I looked up, I was surprised to see Logan shivering outside. She frowned at me before she quickly came around and opened my passenger door, immediately getting inside.

"Oh my god! Cristina, what happened? What's wrong?" She asked as she pulled me into a hug as I cried into her shoulder. "Shh, it's okay." She cooed softly, reassuringly rubbing my back.

We didn't move when we heard the bell ring and I didn't say anything when Roxanne and Blanca appeared outside my car, getting into the backseat but I guessed Logan had something to do with it.

"Are you okay?" Roxanne asked gently and I nodded.

"I'm sorry," I whispered as I sniffled, moving away from Logan's shoulder as I wiped my tears away in the mirror. "We should go, I don't want to make you guys late."

"Wrong answer," Blanca said sternly. "Tell us what's actually wrong."

"Haydn's gone." I blurted out, willing myself not to start crying again.

"Gone? Like you guys broke up?" Logan asked gently and I shook my head.

"Gone as she's disappeared and Luis, her dad, had to call the police and they were at her house, and I don't know where she is," I said withholding tears.

"OH SHIT! Gone like Madeleine McCann?!" Blanca exclaimed from the back.

"What the fuck Blanca?!" Roxanne huffed and I shook my head.

"No, they think she ran away- she just up and left. I know her mom died, and she was upset, and I tried to be there for her but she's just disappeared. She didn't even say anything, she just left." I sniffled, wrapping my arms around. "She left me," I whispered as the tears started to fall again.

"We're so sorry Cris," Roxanne said softly but I could only cry.

"She said she loves me, but I didn't get to say it back." I hiccupped. "And I do, I love her so much it hurts, and she doesn't know," I murmured before I spiraled into another crying fit.

It lasted for a few minutes before I calmed down, wiping the tears away from my swollen eyes, yet again. I probably looked like a mess: red cheeks, puffy eyes and mascara streaks- it was probably best that I was bunking school for the time being.

"I'm sorry you guys." I hiccupped, massaging my temples as I was unable to meet their eyes.

"Come, get out the car," Logan said as she started to open her door and I shook my head.

"No, I can't go in there," I whispered but she shook her head.

"No, you dummy, I'm driving." She clarified and I frowned.

"Where to?" I asked and Roxanne smiled.

"My house, my parents are already at work. We can try calling around, see if anyone has seen her?"

"I can't ask you guys to do that-" I started but Blanca cut me off.

"Listen, Cristina, if I can find a guy off a picture of the back of his head and the name of the gym his cousin goes to, I can find Haydn. Or I could try at least." Blanca smiled reassuringly as I remembered her FBI-worthy detective skills.

"Okay," I whispered.

"Okay? That's perfect." Logan grinned. "I just have to do one quick thing." She said as she took out her phone and began typing.

"But if you're driving my car, who's going to drive yours?" I asked and she shrugged.

"I got a ride with someone today." She explained.

"Who?" Blanca asked, leaning forward slightly. "Cause I came with Roxanne today."

"No one important." She shrugged, not looking at any of us.

My car was silent for a few minutes until I saw Jamal and two of his friends coming down the stairs. I frowned as I watched Jamal hurry up to my car, heading over to the passenger side as Logan put down her window. Jamal had a black beanie pulled down and was dressed in all black with his staple gold chain still on show.

"What's going on beautiful?" Jamal winked at Logan, and we watched her blush.

Weird.

"Nothing much, we take it you heard about Haydn?" Logan asked and he nodded sadly, leaning on my window.

"Yeah, her dad called me earlier this morning to ask if I knew where she was, but I don't." He explained and Logan nodded slowly.

"Well, we're about to go to Roxanne's house to brainstorm, if you want to come? We wanna try and find her." She smiled softly and he immediately nodded his head.

"Yeah, please, that would be great. We're actually really worried about her." He said honestly and I sighed.

"Me too," I admitted, and he gave me a sad smile.

"You guys are going now?" He asked and Logan nodded. "Cool, so we'll just follow you guys?"

"Yeah, let's go," Roxanne said as she and Blanca got out of the car while Logan and I switched seats.

The ride to Roxanne's house didn't take long, which I was thankful for because I was sitting on the edge of my seat but the thought of my friends coming together to help almost made me want to cry again. The ride gave me time to think and as the wheels turned in my brain there was one place my mind kept going that I really, really didn't enjoy but I owed it to Haydn to at least ask. So, when we were all gathered around Roxanne's living room with note pads, I asked Jamal the dreaded question.

"Hey, Jamal, do you have Sara's number?"